Comparative Evaluation of Individual and Combined Plant Extracts for Hair Conditioning: Effects of Ziziphus lotus, Linum usitatissimum, and Opuntia ficus-indica on Virgin and Bleached Hair

Abstract

Chemical bleaching can substantially alter hair fibre structure, increasing porosity and surface damage. This study evaluated the effects of Ziziphus lotus, Linum usitatissimum, and Opuntia ficus-indica extracts on virgin and bleached hair and examined their potential use in a plant-based hair conditioner. We evaluated hair samples treated with the individual extracts and their combination using qualitative porosity testing, fluorescence microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Bleaching resulted in very high porosity and marked disruption of the cuticular surface, while the responses of bleached hair to the individual extracts varied. Treatment with the combined plant extracts reduced the qualitative porosity from very high to medium and resulted in a more continuous and organised surface morphology. The formulated conditioner showed satisfactory physical characteristics, including a smooth, homogeneous appearance, no visible phase separation, a pH of 5.41, a spreadability of 4.9 cm, and an adhesion value of 550 g. No visible irritation was observed during the preliminary testing. Overall, the results suggest that the plant extracts, particularly when used in combination, may have conditioning and surface-protective effects on bleached hair.